Celia Hammond (Curtin, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to recognise the initiatives of the government to support our local not-for-profit organisations to improve energy efficiency practices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower their energy bills. I recently visited Nedlands Golf Club, one of the organisations in my electorate which received a grant of $12,500 from the Energy Efficient Communities Program for solar panels last year. Set on a beautiful A-class reserve, the Nedlands Golf Club is a welcoming local club providing competition and social opportunities for members and visitors.

The club has been working hard to reduce its energy emissions, and in March this year completed the installation of rooftop solar panels with the support of the grant. The club explained to me that the benefits were already flowing from the solar panels, with a significant reduction on its drawdown from the grid. The panels have also generated energy savings of up to $800 per month for the club and are projected to contribute to savings of over $9,000 annually. This year a similar program is on offer for local community groups. I commend the government for expanding this grant to support up to 12 not-for-profit organisations in each electorate, to contribute to greater energy efficiency in Curtin and the rest of Australia.